From Pamela Skillings,
Your Guide to Manhattan, NY.
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New York is one of the most romantic cities in the world – a perfect spot for the wedding of your dreams. Here are some tips for making it official.

The License

You’ll need a marriage license to make it legal. In order to obtain a license, the prospective bride and groom must appear in person at one of the borough offices of the City Clerk of New York:

• Manhattan: 1 Centre St., Municipal Building, 2nd flr., 212.669.2400
  
• Bronx: 851 Grand Concourse, 161st Street, 718.590.5307
  
• Brooklyn: 210 Joralemon St., Municipal Building, 718.802.3585
  
• Queens: 120-55 Queens Blvd., 718.286.2829
  
• Staten Island: 10 Richmond Terrace, Borough Hall, 718.816.2290

The bride and groom will be asked to fill out an Affidavit and Application for Marriage License, which asks for all the gory personal details including name, address, date of birth, social security number, and your marital history. You’ll need a money order in the amount of $35 ( payable to “City Clerk of New York”)and proof of your identity as well as proof of your age if you are, or appear to, be under eighteen years of age.

Acceptable forms of identification include:

• A valid passport
  
• A driver's license, learner's permit, or non-driver ID
  
• Military ID
  
• U.S. Certificate of Naturalization
  
• U.S. Alien Registration Card
  
• Employment Authorization Card
  
  

A blood test is not required. Your license is good for 60 days. Although the marriage license is issued immediately, there is a waiting period of 24 hours from the time the license is issued. This rule is apparently designed to discourage hasty marital decisions.

Fun Fact From the City Clerk: There is no law against marriage between two cousins in New York State.

City Hall Wedding Ceremony

You can get married right in the Clerk's office for only $25 (money order only). Civil Marriage Ceremonies are performed in the Manhattan office from 8:30 am to 3:45 pm, Monday thru Friday (arrive no later than 3:15 pm). Couples must have at least one witness over the age of eighteen present at the wedding ceremony (witness must bring valid identification). After the civil Marriage Ceremony is performed, a marriage certificate will be issued to you that day.